121400 Variety

ROME -- With new investors in place and two high-profile international English-language features ready to roll, Rome-based production stable Cattleya is beefing up its slate in an aggressive bid to become Italy's leading independent audiovisual producer.

At a press conference Tuesday in Rome, Cattleya principals Riccardo Tozzi, Marco Chimenz and Giovanni Stabilini announced a 20% boost to company capital, with publishing and media giant De Agostini and powerhouse financial group San Paolo IMI Private Equity each taking 10% stakes.

Up to $55 million will go into nine to 10 features, and an additional $15 million into television production in the coming year. Cattleya has some 30 features in development.

"There are producers who are more creative and others who are more business-minded," said Tozzi. "Our aim as a company is to cover both areas. There have been enormous changes recently in the mentality of Italian filmmakers, showing a new desire to communicate directly with their audience. Maximizing that creative energy requires a new entrepreneurial approach."

Unlike other expanding Italian players such as Eagle Pictures, which recently ushered in new backers in preparation for stock market flotation, Cattleya is in no rush to go public. Stabilini said that's a medium-range objective rather than an immediate plan.

Heading Cattleya's production slate for 2001 is the Liliana Cavani thriller "Ripley's Game" for Fine Line, which goes before cameras Jan. 15 for a 12-week shoot in Italy's Veneto region, Rome and Germany.

John Malkovich steps into the role of the cynical character Ripley, from Patricia Highsmith's novels, who manipulates an innocent family man, played by Dougray Scott into becoming a killer.

Fine Line will release the pic in North America, with Fine Line Intl. handling worldwide rights.

Readying for an April shoot in France and Spain is Franco Zeffirelli's "Callas Forever," a $17 million drama about the legendary diva's ill-fated comeback attempt during the final years of her life in Paris. Greek opera star Teresa Stratas will play the title role with Jeremy Irons in negotiations to co-star.

Other upcoming projects include Serbian director Goran Paskaljevic's English-language "How Harry Became a Tree," a comic parable set in 1930s Ireland with Colm Meaney and Adrian Dunbar, in post; and Italian Marcello Cesena's comedy "South Seas," shooting at Cinecitta, starring Diego Abatantuono and Victoria Abril.

Also in the pipeline is Michele Placido's "A Journey Called Love," chronicling the romance between feminist writer Sibilla Aleramo and poet Dino Campana; Sandro Dionisio's Naples-set WWII tale "The Three-Legged Fox"; and new films from Cristina Comencini, Enzo Monteleone, Sergio Castellitto and Eros Puglielli.

TV projects include Euro historical mini "Luisa Sanfelice," based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas, and Mediaset medical series "Emergency 115."